Secret Armies: Inside the American, Soviet, and European Special Forces

Adams, defense correspondent for the London Sunday Times, compares U.S., British and Soviet special forces, giving the latter an A, the Brits a B, the bumbling Yanks an F. Providing new material on the structure, training and combat experience of Spetzsnaz, the Soviet's secret army, Adams shows how superior it is in operational capability compared to its U.S. counterpart, Delta Force. His analysis of American blundering in the invasion of Grenada, when an elite Delta squad killed 14 of our own men, is frankly contemptuous. He is rough on Lt. Col. Oliver North for his part in Grenada, the planned takeover of the Achille Lauro and for his ad hoc dealings with Iran. There is no doubt, writes Adams, that the U.S. was ""the victim of a substantial confidence trick by a wide variety of people, including Israelis, arms dealers and the Iranian government.'' His blistering critique takes in the American military establishment as a whole, especially the high command's lukewarm support for special operations forces. ``In the endless struggle between communism and democracy, it is unconventional warfare that is the key,'' the author warns. Photos. First serial to Orbis magazine; Military Book Club dual main selection. (April)